Immigrant drowns as border agent attempts rescue

Published: Thursday, June 28, 2007

ALICIA A. CALDWELLASSOCIATED PRESS

EL PASO - An illegal immigrant drowned in a border canal Wednesday after a U.S. Border Patrol agent trying to rescue him was hit in the head with a rock thrown by a suspected human smuggler, Border Patrol officials said.

The agent, who was not identified, fired at least one shot at the suspected smuggler and another would-be immigrant, who fled back into Mexico, Border Patrol spokesman Patrick Berry said.

Berry said the incident started about 12:30 p.m. after agents watching video feed from a border camera saw a group of at least three men coming through a hole in a border fence east of downtown El Paso. As agents arrived at the scene, one of the immigrants fell into the mocha-colored canal water and was quickly dragged under by the swift current, Berry said.

While one agent tried to help the drowning man, the suspected smuggler started hurling rocks, hitting the agent in the head at least once, opening a 3-inch gash in the agent's head. The agent then fired back and the suspected smuggler and the other man fled south into Mexico, Berry said.

It was unclear if either of the fleeing men were shot.

Berry, who was in the Border Patrol's video control room as the incident unfolded, said he saw the suspected smuggler throw "one, maybe two rocks" at the agent. He did not see how many times the agent fired.

The drowned man's body was found in the canal about 41/2 miles east of where the agents saw him go underneath the water, Berry said.

"If it wasn't for the efforts of the smuggler, this person most likely would have been saved," Berry said.

Wednesday's shooting was the third involving a Border Patrol agent in the El Paso area this year.

In February, an agent patrolling near the spot of Wednesday's shooting fired at least one shot at a group of would-be migrants after having rocks thrown at his head. That agent, who also was not identified, was not injured.

In April, two agents were conducting surveillance when they followed a vehicle into a parking lot and watched a pair of men exchange a roll of money. As one of the agents approached the men, one jumped inside a van and drove toward the agent, who fired at least one shot. The wounded suspect later drove himself to a local hospital and was arrested.